Sunday, May 10, 2009

One night in India

Yesterday I was switching towns. I was going from Srignar, in Kashmir, to McCloud Ganj, which is in H.P. Not that the details really matter. Anyway after a jeep ride and then a bus ride (total time 16 hours) I get dropped off in this town called Gaggol. At a little past midnight, there isn't much to do there. Actually nothing to do. There is no hotel. Nothing is open. A guy on the street tells me that there is a bus coming at 12. It is a bit after 12 by my watch and 10 till by his. So I wait. Nothing. No cars, no nothing. Just the sounds of a bum talking in his sleep. What do you do at midnight with nothing around? My ipod is out of batteries, I just finished my book and don't have another.
I roll a , um cigarette and figure I will walk up the hill to there. A car pulls up and asks me where I am going. He says another bus will come by at 1:30. He also said that he would be passing by a bit later and if I was still there he would give me a lift. So I wait. And wait and wait. I am pacing up and down the street. Talking to myself. Trying to figure out what I want to do with my life and where I want to go live next. (I still can't decide)Finally at 2:30 someone drives by and gives me a lift.
I get into town and nothing is open. Nothing at all. Nobody is answering their doors, all the guest houses are closed. Then some guy pulls up on his bike. He starts talking and asking me what kind of room I want.
He says he has one and that it will be about $6 for the night. The guy is drunk and probably high. But what can I do. I get a good vibe from him. So I go with him.
Anyway I follow him to his place and see the outside. It's a tattoo parlor. Its also his house. 1 room.
It stinks. It smells like unwashed filth. But oh well. I roll up a cig and we smoke it. he tells me about himself, he's from Pakistan, his name is Ashok.

He says he's married to a Swiss girl. And he wants to call her. So he looks for her number in a book and can't find it after 20 mins. So he goes to the sink and pours fuel over the book and lights it on fire.

He leaves to book burning while looking through a different book and finds her number, but doesn't have a phone. He grumbles and then he goes to the sink and warms himself by the fire, which has now filled the room with smoke.

He burns all the hair off his hands and melted some of his hair. After about 15 min. I try to put the fire out. Books burn for a long time. The water doesn't work in his place. I put the fire out with a little water, that I found in a bottle. That is the end of my story. Hope you enjoy.
Oh and the room didn't cost me anything.